UN chief visits \'Shams 1\' solar power plant

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, visited Masdar's Shams 1 concentrated solar power plant today – the 100-megawatt plant is largest renewable energy project in the Middle East. The The Secretary General is in the UAE participating in Abu Dhabi Ascent – a special two-day, high level, United Nations meeting that has brought together political, business and society leaders and policy makers from across the developed and developing world in an effort to catalyse ambitious climate change solutions. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was accompanied on the visit by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar. During the visit the Secretary General said: "By harnessing the power of the sun, the UAE is cutting greenhouse gas emissions, generating jobs and a laying the foundation for low-carbon economic progress." Dr Sultan Al Jaber said: "Shams 1 is an example of action that will contribute to mitigating climate change and one which can serve as a model for other countries. Renewable energy is a fundamental factor in addressing climate change and sustainable development. Shams 1is one example of how the UAE is taking the lead in developing sustainable energy solutions." Operational from March 2013, Shams 1 was a major milestone in the development of renewable energy in the Middle East. The US$600 million plant is located in Abu Dhabi's Western Region, the heart of the UAE's hydrocarbon industry. At full capacity, the 100-megawatt Masdar, Total and Abengoa joint-project powers 20,000 UAE homes, displacing 175,000 tons of CO2 per year.